Host preference of Corcyra Cephalonica (Stainton) under random choice test on different solo grains and their combinations with groundnut

Introduction

Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) commonly known as rice moth or flour moth is one of the most destructive and cosmopolitan pests of stored cereals, pulses, and their products Studies on this type of aspects could be easily carryout by using the insects especially with stored product insect pests. Since most of these insects are studied well with respects to host preference and feeding behavior. One can easily investigate and obtain answer for the above interesting topics. One such a stored product insect pest in Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) belongs to the order Lepidoptera and family Pyralidae. The quality of the natural enemies in the laboratory mostly depends on the quality of the host, which ultimately depends on the host nourishment. Therefore, the diet of the host is potentially of importance to the nutritional quality of host and the survival of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and other egg parasitoids released in the environment as biological control agents (Finney and Fisher, 1964) [3] and (Hunter, 2003) [4] .

Material and Methods

The present investigation was conducted in the academic year 2024-2025 to investigate the "Influence of different diet ingredients on growth and development of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) under laboratory condition." An apparatus made of wooden card board was used to study the food preferences of insects in order to investigate the host choice of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) on both solo and combination grains. The purpose of a wooden card board apparatus is to assess the rice moth's diet preference by positioning all of the grains equally apart from the center and individual grains in their combinations. Twentyfive larvae of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) reared of different diets were taken out to check their random choice of diet. After release of larvae on the wooden apparatus was covered with the lid having open center covered with muslin cloth for aeration and light. The observations were recorded after 24 hours. The number of reared larvae on different diets were recorded. The experiment was repeated three times.

Result and Discussion

The present research findings was carried out to assess the effect of host preference of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) larvae on different solo grain and their combination with groundnut under random choice test Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) was reared on eight different diets including three solo grains, four with combination of groundnut and one combination is cereals only viz. T1 (Sorghum 2.5kg), T2 (Sorghum 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g), T3 (Bajra 2.5kg), T4 (Bajra 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g), T5 (Rice 2.5kg), T6 (Rice 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g), T7 (Sorghum 1.25kg + Bajra 1.25kg + Rice 1.25kg), T8 (Sorghum 1.25kg + Bajra 1.25kg + Rice 1.25kg + Groundnut 150g). Results obtained maximum larvae in each diet indicated that treatment T2 (Sorghum 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g) which gave with 5 larvae and it was at par with T4 (Bajra 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g) with 4 larvae in diet and followed by T1 (Sorghum 2.5kg) with 3.33 larvae in diet, T3 (Bajra 2.5kg) with 3 larvae in diet, T7 (Sorghum 1.25kg + Bajra 1.25kg + Rice 1.25kg) with 3 larvae in diet, T5 (Rice 2.5kg) with 3 larvae in diet. Minimum larvae in each diet found that the T8 (Sorghum 1.25kg + Bajra 1.25kg + Rice 1.25kg + Groundnut 150g) with 2 larvae in diet and T6 (Rice 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g) with 2 larvae in diet. Kumar et al. (2018) [2] found that the diet consisting of groundnut and sorghum produced the greatest results out of all the diets examined. Kale (2021) [1] reported that maximum larvae were recorded in Sorghum 2.5kg + Groundnut 150g with 5.34 larvae which was superior over all treatments.

Conclusion

In the study of host preference of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) based on random choice test in order to larval preference that Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) larvae found more preferred on diet T2 (Sorghum + Groundnut).

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementWe acknowledge all the authors for their support in this research paper

References

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2. Kumar R, Kumar A, Singh R, Singh J, Kumar A, Singh VP. Study of different diets on biological parameters of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton). Int J Agric Invention. 2018;4(1):49-54.
3. Finney GL, Fisher TW. Culture of entomophagous insects and their hosts. In: Deback P, editor. Biological control of insect pests and weeds. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation; 1964. p. 84-112.
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